News

Farmer Organisations Push for Action on Crisis Ahead of EU Meeting

10 March 2016

EU - Presidents of the UK farming unions will meet UK ministers in Brussels to discuss ways to respond to the deepening European agricultural crisis ahead of a high-profile meeting of Europe’s Agriculture ministers on Monday March 14 2016.

The meeting will discuss among other things the current difficulties faced in several agricultural sectors, including the pig meat, dairy and fruit and vegetables sectors.

According to the council, the debate will also help to assess the adequacy and effectiveness of the market support measures currently in place, and whether additional measures could be envisaged.

The UK farming unions believe that urgent action is required at an EU and UK level. New ways to boost trade and improve the market, access to finance and fairness in supply chains need to be found to reduce the pressure on struggling farmers.

Liz Truss MP, Richard Lochhead MSP, Michelle O’Neill MLA and Rebecca Evans AM will meet with the four presidents of the farming unions at the NFU offices in Brussels. Following the meeting, ministers will meet their European counterparts, as well as Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan, to discuss a range of measures proposed to help the industry.

NFU (England and Wales) President Meurig Raymond said: “The UK food and farming sector is worth £103 billion and employs 3.8 million people – 13.4 per cent of the UK workforce. Our industry is currently experiencing major difficulties which need addressing urgently.

“We are calling on the Secretary of State to voice support for swift measures which could provide the urgent relief we need – such as the lifting of tariffs on fertiliser imports, establishing new financial instruments with the European Investment Bank and working to improve the dysfunctional European supply chain.

"As representatives of 70,000 farmers, we are committed to putting this across to the ministers on Monday.

“We are working at every level – local, national and European – to find new ways to take the burden off our struggling farmers.

"The cumulative effect of the Russian trade ban, supply and demand imbalances in the market and problems with the BPS payments delivery means that UK farmers are facing significant cash flow difficulties. We will suggest deliverable actions for the European Commission to tackle this undeniable farming crisis."